“I stand before you today to let you know that we are survivors,” the woman told David John Bassett. “.. You thought you got away with overpowering a little boy with autism. Well, welcome to his world now.

“It’s your turn to find out what it’s like to be the little guy. Iit’s your turn to find out what it’s like to be in a cage.”

It took a jury one hour earlier this month to find Bassett, 52, guilty of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, torture and two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct following his trial in front of Circuit Judge Alexander C. Lipsey.

On Monday, Lipsey sentenced Bassett to 25 years to 40 years in prison for first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Bassett will spend at least 30 years in prison, because Lipsey ordered him to serve a consecutive sentence of five years to 15 years in prison for second-degree criminal sexual conduct.

In addition, Lipsey sentenced Bassett to 15 years to 40 years in prison for torture and five years to 15 years on the second count of second-degree CSC. Those sentences will run concurrent to the sentence Bassett received for first-degree CSC.

Prosecutors said Bassett raped the boy from 2006 to 2008 when the he was between the ages of 6 and 9. Bassett also subjected the boy to torture that included keeping the him in a dog cage, pulling out his eyebrow hairs and squeezing his genitals until they would bleed.

At his sentencing Monday, the boy’s mother called Bassett “a monster” and told him that despite Bassett’s efforts to silence the boy about what happened to him, “He has his own voice.”

She said the boy is doing well in school, earning academic achievements and using his talents as “a wonderful singer” in his school’s choir.

"He has contributed more in his 14 years of life than you have in your 52," the woman told Bassett. "But you always did underestimate him and that ultimately led to your undoing.”

When his opportunity came, the boy spoke confidently as Bassett looked on.

“I hate you,” the boy, who has autism, said to Bassett. “I wish you would die. You treated me like dirt. You raped me.

“... Now, you’re not the boss of me anymore. I have the power now and you don’t ... You can’t mess with me anymore.”

For his part, Bassett told Lipsey, “I do want to say that on my eternal soul and spirit, I do maintain my innocence, your honor.”

But Lipsey was quick to point out to Bassett that “the jury has spoken in this case.”

“The facts have demonstrated not only a serious offense but an offense that I’m not sure I’ve found anyone in the community who would feel that this is not the worst of the worst offenses.”